Pivotal connection



Nov. 13, 1928;- H' C' HARRIS I v Re. 17,136

PIVOTAL CONNECTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed- April 16, 1926 liga.

PIVOTAL CONNECTION A Sheets-Sheet@ Original Filed April 16, 1926 Reissuecl Nov. 13, 1928.

HOWARD C. HARRIS, F AKRON', OHIO.

PIVOTAL CONNECTION.

Original No. 1,624,239, dated April 12, 1927, Serial No. 102,435, filed April 16, 1926. Application for 'reissue filed September 4,

This invention relates to pivotal connections and more particularly to means for connecting the ends of a vehicle spring With the frame.

It is one of the objects of the invention toprovide an improved type of pivotal connection that Will employ a Hexible rubber bushing adapted to accommodate the relative oscillations of the parts, by the flexing of the l0 rubber, and also form a cushion which Will damp out shocks and prevent them from being transmitted from the spring to the vehicle frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved form of pivotal connection, embodying a rubber bushing, that Will be comparatively simple and inexpensive and that may be easily assembled and disassembled and adjusted to suit the requirements of service.

Other objects of the invention and the .features of novelty will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of Which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through ya connection embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but shoW- ing another form of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing still another form;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the formvof construction illustrated in Fig. 4p; and

Fig. 6 is a fragment of Fig. 5 but illustrating a slight modification, thereof.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, 10 indicates the end portion of a multipleleaf spring of the type that is commonly used in motor vehicles. It is customary to lform the end of the main leaf of the spring With an eye adapted to receive the pivot bolt which connects the spring with 4the vehicle frame but, I prefer to use, instead of the usual spring eye, a member 11, which may be in the form of a casting, and Which is secured tothe spring by means of al bolt 12 and a strap 13, which is secured to the member 11 by the bolts 14. The strap 13 preferably encloses a plurality of the leaves of the spring and, in the drawings, I have shown two leaves enclosed thereby but, in any case, the strap 13 should not cramp the leaves to such an extent as to interfere With their freedom of action.

One of the side members of the vehicle frame is indicated at 15 and has secured there- 1928. Serial No. 305,120.

op a bracket 16, by means of rivets or bolts l The bracket 16 has the laterally spaced depending arms 18'and 19 Which are provided With` relatively large aligned bores 20 and 21, respectively. The member 11 has a bore 22 that is coaxial With the bores 2O and 21 and a pintle 23 extends through these bores, preferably being arranged at the axis thereof and being of hexagonal or other non-circular cross-section. At the opposite sides of the member 11, there are counterbores 24.

A two-part rubber bushing, comprising the members 25' and 26, is arranged between the pintle 23 and the. member 11, closely fitting the pintle and also the bore 22, as indicate-d at 27. The members 25 and 26 are of such size that they may be inserted through the' bores 20 and 21 and the outer kends of the members tipe supported Within these bores, as shown in Members 28 are arranged in abutting relation to the outer ends of the rubber bushing and have hubs 29, Which slidably fit on the pintle 23 but are non-rotatable With reference `f thereto. Plates 30 are arranged on the outer sides of the members 28 and these plates and the members 28 have ears 31 which receive bolts 32, whereby the members 2,8 and 30 may be moved in an axial direction to compress the rubber bushing and thus secure it Within the bore 22 and on the pintle 23. Set-screws 33 are carried by the plates 30 and engage with the ends of the pintle 23 to hold the latter against axial movement. These. set-'screws are secured in adjustment by the lock-nuts 34. VV'hen the members 28 and 30 are being adjusted, the set-screws 33 are unscrewed so as to not engage the ends of the pintle and, after the adjustments have been completed, the set-screws are screwed up tightly against the ends of the pintle and then locked by means of the nuts 34. I

The bolts 32 hold the members 28 and 3() from rotating With respect to the arms 18 10o and 19 and, since the pintle 23 is non-rotatably held by the members 28, the pintle Will be rigidly supported in the arms 19. At the same time, the member 11 is free to oscillate, with respect to the pintle, because of the flexi- 105 bility of the rubber and it should be here noted, that the rubber compound should be of a tough and resilient matter that Will accommodate the normal oscillations of the member 11 without liability to tear or disintegrate. 110

lll/'biley the pressure of the members 28, on the ends of the bushing, is adapted to secure the bushing against movement in the bore 22 or about the pintle 23, under normal conditions, excessive oscillation of the member 11 will be accommodated by a slight slippingwhich will obviate any liability of destruction of `the,

bushing. The counter-bores 24, in the member 11, serve to accurately position the member and also prevent axial movementl on the bushing. V

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3, the construction is essentially the same as that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, with the exception that the counterbores 24, of the latter, are omitted and the member 35, which corresponds to the member 11, has a centra-l internal collar or-flange36 against which the inner ends of the parts 37 and 38of the Arubber bushing, abut, this collar thus securing the member against axial movement on the bushing.,l v

In the form ofthe invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the member 39 which corresponds with the members 11 and 35, of the other constructions, has an internal collar or flange 40 which serves the same purpose. as the collar 36. The bracket arms 41 and 42 anA provided with bores through which the bushing parts 43 and 44 are insertable, the outer ends of these bushing parts being positioned in/ these bores, which are indicated at 45. The axially movable members 46 fit the bores 45 and have a slidable but non-rotatable connection with the pintle47. The ends of the pintle 47 have threaded extensions 48 on which 'the plates49 are adjust-able, these plates and the members 46 having lugs 50, which are engaged by bolts 51, for the purpose f nonrotatably securing the members 46 and'49 toy the arms 41 and 42. Prior to inserting the bolts 51, the plates 49 maybe turned on the extensions 48 by means of a Spannerwrench which engagesthe .openingsfor the bolts 51 and, thus the membersk 46 may be forced in-v wardly to eompressthe bushing parts 43 and v 44. When the member-S46 havelbeen adjusted to give the proper `compression to the rubber v bushing, the'V lugs 50v are brought into `,alignment and the bolts 51 inserted so as toisecure the parts tothe arms 41 and42. It Awill be understood that while one of the plates 49 Lis being turned to adjust its companion member 46, the bolts 51 will be in position to secure the other` member 46 against, rotation and since the members 46 are both non-rotatably' connected with the pintle 4'Z,`the'y will'both be held against rotation by securing one of them to its supporting arm 41 or 42, as the case may be. lThis permits the plates 49 to be rotated independently of each other and also independently of the members 46 and, when the adjustment has been made at one end of the pintle, the parts atzthe other end may then be adjusted.

and, then after the adjustment has been completed, the bolts 51 may be tightened to properly secure the parte.

I claim is: l

1. In pivotal connections, the combination of a bracket .having `spaced arms provided with aligned'bores, a member which .is ar- Having thus described-my invention, whatl ranged between said arms and has a bore that is coaxial with the bores in said arms, a pintle extending through said bores, a. rubberbushing between said pintle and said member and through whichA the member and pintle are connected, axially movable members iitting the bores in said arms and non-rotatably connected with said pintle, and means whereby said axially movable members are moved to compress said rubber bushing axially and non-rotat-ably secured to said arms.

2; In pivotal connections, the combination of ay bracket having spaced arms provided with laligned bores, a member which is arranged between said arms and has a bore that is coaxial with the bores in said arms, a pintle Vextending through said bores, a rubber bushnected, axially movable members fitting the bores in said arms and non-rotatably con.

nected with said pintle, means whereby said axially movable members are moved to compress said rubber bushing axially and nonrotatably secured to said arms, and means for securing said pintle against a-xial-movements. j

3. In pivotal connections, the combinationv of a. brackethaving spaced arms provided with aligned bores, a 'member which is arranged between said arms and has a bore that is coaxial with the bores in said arms, a pintle extending' through said bores, a rubber bushing bet-Ween said pintle and said member and through which the member and pintle are connected,A axially movable members fitting the bores in said arms and non-rotatably connected vwith said pintle, means whereby said axially movable members are moved to compress said rubber bushing axially and nonrotatably secured to said arms, and threaded means forming connections between said ax-` ranged between said arms and has a bore that is coaxial with the bores in said arms, a pintle extending through said bores, a rubber bushing between said pintle and said member and through which the member and pintle are conL nested, said bushing being so formed that it may be inserted through the bore in one of said arms, axially movable members fitting the bores in said arms and non-rotatably connected with said pintle, and means whereby said axiallyvlnovable members are moved to compress said rubber bushing axially and non-rotatably secured to said arms.

5. In pivotal connections, the combination of a bracket having spaced arms provided with aligned bores, a member which is arranged between said arms and has a bore that is coaxial with the bores in said arms, said member also having. an internal collar, a pintle extending through, said bores, a two-part rubber bushing 'between said pintle and said `member and through which the member and pintle are connected, the parts of said bushing being insertable through the bores of said arms and having their inner ends inengagement with opposite sides of said collar, the outer ends of said bushing part-s litting the bores in said arms, axially movable members litting the bores in said arms and abutting the ends of said bushing and also being non rotatably connected with said pintle, and bolts for securing vslaid axially movable members to said arms.

6. Infpivotal connections, the combination of a bracket having spaced arms provided 'with aligned bores, a member which' is ar- 1ange`d between said arms and has a bore that is coaxial with the bores inl said arms, said member also having an internal collar, a pintle extending through said bores, a twopart rubber bushing between said pintle and said member and through which the member and pintle are connect-edythe parts of said bushing being insertable through the bores of said arms andhaving their inner ends'in engagement with opposite sides of said collar, the outer ends of said bushing parts fitting the bores in said arms, axially movable members fitting the bores in said arms and abutting the ends of said bushing and also being non-rotatably connected with said pintle` plates having screw `thread connection with the ends of saidpintle and abutting the outer sides of said axially inovableunembers, and bolts for non-rotatably securing said axially movable members to said arms. v

7. In pivotal connections, the combination 4oi a bracket having spaced arms provided with aligned bores, a member which is arranged between said arms and has a bore that is coaxial with the bores in said arms, said member also having an internal collar, a pintle extendingl through said bores, a two-part rubber bushing between said pintle and said member and through which the member and pintle are connected, the parts of said bushing being insertable through the bores of said arms andhaving their inner ends in engageof a bracket having spaced arms provided with aligned bores, a member which is arranged between said arms and has a bore that is coaxial with the bores of said arms, a pintle extending through said bores, a two-part rubber bushing between said pintle and saidy vmemberv and through which the member and pintle are connected, the parts of said bushing being insertable through the bores in said arms, the outer ends of said bushing parts litting the bores in lsaid arms, axially movable members fitting the bores in said arms and abuttingthe ends of said bushing and also being non-rotatably connected'with said pintle, plates having screw thread connection with the ends of said pintle and abutting the outer sides of said axially movable members whereby the latter may be moved to compress said lbushing axially, and bolts` for non-rotatably securing said axially movable members to said arms.

9. *In pivotal connections, the combination of .a bracket having spaced arms provided with aligned bores, a member which is arranged between said arms and has a bore that i is coaxialrwith the bores of said arms, a pintle vouter sides of said axially movable members whereby the latter mayy be moved to compress said bushing axially, andbolts for nonrotatably securing said axially movable members and said plates to said arms.

10. In connections for vehicle springs, the combination .of a .trame bracket having spaced arms, a spring having an eye arl ranged between said arms, said eye havingv an .internal'radially extending flange therein, flexible bushings arranged in said eye "A Mesem with their inner ends engaging said flange an d their outer ends seated in recesses in said arms, a bolt carried b said arms and extending through said bushings, and means for compressing said bushings axially.

11. In connections for vehicle springs, the combination of a frame bracket having spaced arms, a spring having an eye arranged between said arms, said eye having an internal radially extending flange-therein,- lexible bushings arranged in said eye With` theirlinner ends engaging said iange and their outer ends seated in recesses in said arms, a bolt carried by said armsand having a non-circular portion whereby it is prevented from rotation relative thereto, said bolt extending through said bushings and said Flange, and means for compressing said bushings axially.

l2. In connections for vehicle springs, the combination of a frame bracket having spaced arms, a spring having an yeye ,arranged between said arms, said eye having an internal radiallylextending flange therein, flexible bushings arranged in said eye With a portion of their inner ends in abutting relation and another portion engaging said flange and their outer ends engaging said arms, a

bolt carried by said arms and extending through said bushings, andmeans for compressing said bushings axially.

13. In connections for vehicle springs, the combination of a frame bracket having a removable side member adapted to be bolted thereto, a spring having an eye arranged in said bracketand spaced therefrom, said eye having' an internal radially extending flange therein, flexible' bushings arranged in said eye with their inner ends abutting said fiange and theirouter ends engaging said bracket, and a bolt extending through said'bushings and havingit's ends supported in said bracket, saidbuslrings being under axial compression and arranged to torsionally fiex'to accommodate the relative oscillations of said spring vand bracket. Y 14. In connections for vehicle springs, the

combination of a frame bracket having a removable side member adapted to be lbolted thereto, a spring having a member, provided With'a bore having a central internal iange, secured thereto, flexible bushings arranged in said bore With theii` inner ends abutting said flange and with their outer ends engaging said bracket, the portions of said bush ings` between the ends of said bore and said bracket being unconined, and a bolt extending through and' engaged by said bushings and having its ends supported in said bracket, said bushings being under axial compression and arranged to torsionally flex to accommodate the relative oscillations of said spring and bracket. l

In testimony whereof, I hereunto 'aiix my signature.

HOWARD C. HARRIS. 

